Vance County Recognizes Carl James, 2022 Employee of the Year

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Carl James of the maintenance department for Vance County is the County’s first employee of the year.

James was recognized in May of 2022 as the employee of the month.

“He’s always willing to help anyone and give advice and always has a positive attitude,” said Frankie Nobles, lead of the Employee Engagement Team for the County.

The employee of the year was selected from the employees of the month through 2022 based on a rating scale of 1 to 5, including such criteria as teamwork and attendance.

Nobles said James “gets the job done right the first time, does whatever it takes to get the job done.”

The announcement came at Monday’s Vance County Board of Commissioners meeting, and later this month there will be a reception for James including cake and the presentation of a plaque.

Congratulations to Carl James!

L-R: Frankie Nobles, Carl James, Yolanda Feimster – Board Chair

Rabies Alert

Rabid Bat Discovered in the 2100s Block of Warrenton Road

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Vance County Animal Services sent off a bat for testing March 6, and the test came back positive for rabies.

Frankie Nobles, chief of Vance County Animal Services, said his team responded to the call in the 2100s block of Warrenton Road.

In a press release, Nobles said, “At this time, animal services is asking (you) to please make sure that all cats and dogs are up to date on their rabies vaccine,” noting that even up-to-date animals in the area the bat was discovered should receive a booster.

The Vance County Animal Shelter offers the rabies vaccine for $5.00.

Hours of operation are: Monday from 12:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m; Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.; and Saturday from 8 a.m. until 12 Noon.

Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Upcoming Events At Perry Memorial Library

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When Melody Peters joined the staff of Perry Memorial Library back in July 2022, she was faced with the challenge of drawing teens back through the library doors. Story times are great for little ones, and older patrons were clamoring to return after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but teenagers?

What’s a youth services director to do?

So, she created a “Life Hack” series and a “Survival Skills” series.

If you’re just hearing this now at 5 p.m., you’ve still got a little time to race down to the library on Breckenridge St. to participate in a resume building session. NC Works and Vance-Granville Community College reps are on hand until about 6 p.m. to help understand the importance of resumes, and to walk through mock interviews.

The Survival Skills continues next week with a shirt-making session. Last time, the group – which Peters said included 6 guys and 4 girls – made themselves mittens out of fleece.

“I’m hoping that same group comes back – and brings some friends,” she told Bill Harris during Tuesday’s recurring library update on The Local Skinny!

Participants can either make a tank top or bring in a favorite shirt that may need some mending.

If the mitten-making workshop is any indication, the shirt workshop will be a success. “They seemed to be really enjoying the task,” Peters said of the mitten exercise.

“When you see it complete, you can feel proud of yourself,” she said.

Other upcoming events at the library geared for youth in the community include:

Saturday, Mar. 11

11 a.m. to 12 noon – FAFSA info session. Parents, bring your high school students who may be ready to complete the FAFSA document, an online document that colleges and universities use to determine financial aid eligibility.

“It can be overwhelming,” Peters said, “but you can do it.”

Tuesday, Mar. 21

4:30 p.m. Kids Connect

Local artist and Vance County Arts Council member Alice Clark will do art activities with the kids.

 

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TownTalk: Vance County Republican Convention Coming Up

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Local Republican Party leaders are putting the finishing touches on plans for upcoming county conventions, that vital first step of electing delegates that will ultimately select delegates for upcoming state and national events in advance of the 2024 elections.

Jimmy Barrier chairs the Vance County GOP, which plans to have its county convention on Friday, Mar. 24 at Pool Rock Reception and Convention Center. He was joined by Mike Magnanti, vice-chair of the Granville GOP and David Woodson, Warren County GOP treasurer on Tuesday’s TownTalk with John C. Rose.

Granville County will host its county convention one day before the Vance County event – Thursday, Mar. 23 at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center. Doors open at 4:30, Magnanti said.

Warren County held its convention Saturday, Mar. 4, Woodson said. The GOP doesn’t have a large presence in Warren County, “but it’s growing,” Woodson reported.

“I’m excited about the momentum,” he said. “2024 will be here before you know it – we need to be ready.”

Political activity begins at the precinct levels in February, which leads to county conventions in March – that’s usually when the group elects officers and district delegates. The district and state conventions are held in June, followed by the national convention in July, Magnanti explained.

“It’s all about organizing the county, so that we can move forward to the state convention and the national convention,” he said.

As chairman, Barrier said his job is simple, but not always easy. “My job is to get candidates elected,” he said. He would like to see more Republicans throw their hats into the ring to run for local office.

“Come in and help us and show us what you want us to do,” he said, inviting the community to attend the upcoming Vance County convention. “It’s ‘us,’” he said. “It’s our party.”

Barrier said everyone is welcome to attend the Vance GOP convention, but only registered Republicans will be able to take part in any votes during the business portion; registration and credentialing begins at 5:30 p.m. and the business meeting begins at 7 p.m.

Scheduled to speak are State Sen. Lisa Stone Barnes and N.C. Rep Frank Sossamon.

Magnanti said State Treasurer Dale Folwell heads up a long list of speakers, including elected officials as well as other candidates running for office.

“This is a great meeting to…get to see what’s going on,” he said. “This is a great one to come to.”

The county conventions are certainly a time to conduct the business of the organization, but Woodson said, “it’s definitely a rally and it’s a community outreach.” Calling local conventions the grassroots of this nation’s political system, he continued by saying, “This is where it really all happens. “People are getting interested…they want to hear some answers and hear some options.”

Vance County GOP:

vancegop@gmail.com or find Vance County NC Republican Party on Facebook

Granville County GOP:

www.granvillegop.org or email info@granvillegop.org; find them on Facebook and Twitter

Warren County GOP:

warrennc.gop@gmail.com or find them on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

Petco Provides $10k More for Vance Animals

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The Petco Foundation awarded Vance County Animal Services $10,000 in early March.

The Save Pet Lives Grant will be used for just that, lifesaving efforts of pets in Vance County.

Chief of Vance County Animal Services Frankie Nobles said in a press release, “These funds will help save lives of animals at the Vance County Animal Shelter as well as be used for spaying and neutering community pets.”

He indicated the grant money could also be used to pay unforeseen vet expenses for animals at the shelter.

This marks the second time a Petco Grant has been received in Vance County and is among a short list of organizations that have periodically awarded such grants here locally.

Petco recently opened a retail space in Vance County.

Search Warrant Leads to Drug Bust on Townsville Landing Road

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Information provided by the Office of Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame.

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant March 3 at the residence of Kelly Hemann, located at 358 Townsville Landing Road.

The warrant was served as the result of an ongoing investigation into illegal drug sales at the residence.

Members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office located and seized Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Heroin, Marijuana and Hydrocodone.

Hemann, 52, was arrested for Trafficking Cocaine, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Trafficking Heroin, Possess with intent to Manufacture, Sell and Deliver Heroin, Possess with intent to Manufacture, Sell and Deliver Cocaine, Possess with intent to Manufacture, Sell and Deliver Methamphetamine, Possess with intent to Manufacture, Sell and Deliver Schedule II Controlled Substance, Possess with intent to Manufacture, Sell and Deliver Schedule VI Controlled Substance, Felony Possession of Marijuana and Maintain Dwell/Place For Controlled Substance.

She received a $300,000 secured bond and a court date of April 25, 2023.

Three Face Murder Charges In February Killings

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Three people have been arrested and charged with murder after two men were found dead in a vehicle in a Henderson neighborhood last month.

On Monday, Henderson police, along with officers from the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Oxford Police Department and the SBI made the arrests, according to information from Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

Antonio Ray Townes, 29, and Shyheem Burton, 27, both of Vance County, were arrested, along with Tiffany Greene, 30, of Oxford.

Each faces two counts of first-degree murder in relation to the deaths of Kentrell Venable, 18, and Quavon Champion, 22. The men were found in a car parked on Gholson Avenue in Henderson on Feb. 7. Both men had been shot.

The suspects have been remanded to the custody of the Vance County Detention Center without bond pending future court proceedings.

Older Than 45? Time For A Colonoscopy

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-information courtesy of Maria Parham Health and Colleen Truax MSN, APRN, FNP-C

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. If you are 45 or older, it’s time to think about getting a colonoscopy.

Health experts say screening increases the chance of early detection – which increases greatly the odds of successful treatment. During a colonoscopy, polyps can be removed before they become cancerous, according to Colleen Truax, a nurse practitioner in gastroenterology at Maria Parham Health.

The American Cancer Society recommends people get screened at age 45 – or younger for those at higher risk. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women, excluding skin cancers. It is also the third leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women. And while most of these cases occur in people 50 and older, the disease can occur in men and women at any age.

Fortunately, colonoscopies are an easier procedure than many realize. Shortly before the procedure, you will be given medications to minimize your discomfort. This procedure is so tolerable, in fact, that many people will ask, “When will we start?” only to be told the procedure has already begun. During the approximately 30-minute procedure, any polyps found will be removed by the doctor, and tissue samples will be sent to a lab for a biopsy.

Colonoscopies are critical to diagnosing cancer early because the beginning stages of colorectal cancer can often appear without symptoms. A colonoscopy can detect cancer early, making it much easier to treat. In fact, thanks in large part to colonoscopies, the overall incidence of, and death rates associated with, colorectal cancers have been on the decline for more than a decade. But this downward trend is mostly in older adults.  In people younger than 50, rates have been increasing by one to two percent a year since the mid-1990’s. Although the early stages of colorectal cancer are often symptomless, there are some common signs of colorectal cancers you should be aware of, according to the American Cancer Society, including:

  • Bleeding from the rectum;
  • Blood in the stool or in the toilet after having a bowel movement;
  • Dark or black stools;
  • Change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a narrowing of your stool, that  lasts for more than a few days;
  • Cramping, pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen;
  • Weakness and fatigue; and
  • Decreased appetite and unintentional weight loss.

While these symptoms can also be indicative of other health conditions, you should always talk to your doctor about them so he or she can help you get to the root of the issue and determine the underlying cause. In addition to scheduling your colonoscopy and keeping an eye out for common symptoms, you can be proactive in preventing colon cancer by living a healthy lifestyle that includes daily exercise, a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting your alcohol intake and eliminating smoking.

Contact Maria Parham Health at 800.424.DOCS or visit MariaParham.com to schedule your colonoscopy today. For more information about colorectal cancer, visit https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon.

Vance County Logo

The Local Skinny! Vance County Commissioners To Meet Tonight

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Update 10 p.m. Monday:

The Vance County Commissioners voted Monday to authorize the execution of the “second wave” of Opioid Settlements written about below, meaning Vance County would receive an additional $2.76 million between 2023 and 2036

Original Update 5:30 p.m. Monday:

The Vance County Commissioners are scheduled to hear this evening all about what amounts to a lot of activity by county staff, who continually work to make sure county business gets taken care of in a timely and efficient manner. Tonight’s meeting begins at 6 p.m.

County Manager Jordan McMillen will share information about money coming into the county from the national opioid settlement, money the county may need to come up with to support KARTS and an upcoming planning retreat for the commissioners and county staff later this week.

These topics and more are scheduled to be part of the county manager’s report to the commissioners at their meeting Monday.

The manager is expected to recommend that Vance County join in “Wave Two” of the opioid settlement, which would bring an additional $600 million to the state to be distributed to local governments and municipalities.

The decision needs to be made by April 18; if the commissioners approve the recommendation, Vance County would receive an additional $2.76 million between 2023 and 2036, McMillen said.

The county has gotten more than $315,000 of its total $3.45 million allotment from Wave One.

McMillen also will present a funding request from KARTS, which operates in the four-county region. The rural transportation service is asking for more “emergency funding” – $75,000 – from Vance County and from the other counties it serves to allow the service to finish out the fiscal year.

The total annual budget is approximately $3.75 million, most of which comes from federal funding. Another 10 percent to 15 percent comes from local counties. McMillen said KARTS is asking for an additional $154,936 in administrative funds for the upcoming FY 2023-24 budget, as well as an extra $32,931 in capital funds to allow for replacement of buses that are over the recommended mileage.

“It is our understanding the funding requests are a result of expiring Federal CARES Act funds which have been instrumental in filling a gap in their new facility and operational costs the past couple of years,” Jordan stated in agenda information. “They have also indicated a need to
increase driver rates and have been paying significant overtime due to driver shortages. The KARTS board is exploring various ways to improve efficiency and raise additional revenue to include possible increased rates for contracted services, recouping money for no shows, and advertising on their vans among other things,” he continued.

The KARTS request may be part of the discussion at the upcoming commissioners’ planning retreat, set for Wednesday, Mar. 8 at the Perry Memorial Library.

The daylong planning retreat will begin at 9 a.m., McMillen noted. Among the agenda items include a board training on establishing a high-performing board, then a finance and budget review, with discussion, from the county finance director.

The day is scheduled to end by 4 p.m., following a goal prioritization session for the upcoming fiscal year.

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